It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I think Amy Poehler ought to win every award possible for anything ever. She's a stand-up feminist, she's a role model, she's a superb writer, and a freakin' funny lady.
While I'm disappointed that she didn't get a Best Writer nomination for The Fight, which I believe to be one of the funniest episodes of television ever made, I'm glad she got the actress nom and that the show was recognized as well.
It's a hell of a turnaround for a show that, frankly, kinda sucked in season 1. I thought season 2 was the best ever, until season 3 came around and turned the whole thing into, well, perfection.
One of the most magical things about Leslie Knope is that she's a sexy single woman who has no problem getting dates, but men don't really take up space in her mind. Which I think is refreshing and daring for a mainstream network comedy, as they tend to focus so one-sidedly on single girls and their romantic pursuits. Leslie doesn't have to validate her desirability through men. She KNOWS she's sexy. (Which is why I have some issue with the romance storyline with Ben, but they're SO DAMN CUTE! What other relationship has two characters whose idea of sexual roleplay is Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan?)
She is 100% in charge, but she's still compassionate and caring. No one would dare question an authority or doubt her ability. She has strong friendships with both men and women. Leslie Knope is the feminist ideal.
Also, and most importantly, she's hilarious.
Here's what Tina Fey had to say about Amy Poehler in Bossypants
"Amy was in the middle of some such nonsense with Seth Meyers across the table, and she did something vulgar as a joke. I can’t remember what it was exactly, except it was dirty and loud and ‘unladylike.’
Jimmy Fallon, who was arguably the star of the show at the time, turned to her and in a faux-squeamish voice said, ‘Stop that! It’s not cute! I don’t like it.’ Amy dropped what she was doing, went black in the eyes for a second, and wheeled around on him. ‘I don’t fucking care if you like it.’ Jimmy was visibly startled. Amy went right back to enjoying her ridiculous bit. I should make it clear that Jimmy and Amy are very good friends and there was never any real beef between them. (Insert penis joke here.)
With that exchange, a comic shift took place. Amy made it clear that she wasn’t there to be cute. She wasn’t there to play wives and girlfriends in the boys’ scenes. She was there to do what she wanted to do and she did not fucking care if you like it."
And, because this never ceases to be amusing:
